Pick, Prediction, & Preview:

Philadelphia 76ers vs Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are set to play in game 2 of their current 3 game homestand where they will play a non-conference foe in the Philadelphia 76ers. The Grizzlies have been playing solid basketball in a tough Western Conference as they have already accounted for more than 1/4 of their wins in 2017. Philadelphia is looking to continue playing solid basketball but they need to be better on the road as they have only gone 1-5 to start the season.

Philadelphia 76ers's Latest Performance :

The Philadelphia 76ers have been extremely inconsistent this season as they have beaten some really good teams and have loss to some really bad teams, but a solid victory over the Indiana Pacers on 11/7 may have this young team trending in the right direction. As mentioned before Joel Embiid is playing like an MVP as the big man out of Kansas is leading the team in both PPG (27.7), RPG (12.4), and BPG (2.3). Joel Embiid was able to continue his hot start to 2018 with a solid outing against the Pacers as he dropped a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Embiid wasn’t the only one to drop a double-double as his partner in crime Ben Simmons had a nice game of his own with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Perhaps the one guy we have been waiting to break out for the 76ers is Dario Saric and he was a solid 3rd piece for the 76ers in their win as he had 18 points and 7 rebounds. Philadelphia looked better on the defensive end in this game as they held the Pacers to 94 points and 25% from 3-point range which is solid for a defense who has ranked in the bottom 10 of the NBA in those categories. Turnovers have also been a problem for the 76ers this year and this last outing was no different as Joel Embiid turned the ball over 5 times as they outnumbered the Pacers as a team in that category 16-10.

Memphis Grizzlies's Latest Performance :

The Memphis Grizzlies were a consistent playoff contender pre-2017 but a 22 win season derailed their 7-year consecutive post-season appearance streak. The Western Conference has only got stronger but the Memphis Grizzlies look like an improved team as they sit a few games above .500 and have the #1 defense in the NBA. The Grizzlies are led by their star PG Mike Conley who isn’t putting MVP type numbers but the 16.6 PPG and 6 APG is enough to lead the team in both categories. Another veteran who is playing well for Memphis is big man Marc Gasol who has contributed 14.4 PPG and team highs in RPG (8.9) and SPG (2). If there was one positive to the Grizzlies having a bad season last year it is the fact that they were able to select the versatile big man Jaren Jackson early in the draft. Jackson has been a vital part of the Grizzlies success this year as the rookie has contributed 12.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and a team-high 1.6 BPG. The Grizzlies are coming off a very impressive home win over the 9-2 Denver Nuggets as they used their defense to come out on top. PG Mike Conley had a fairly silent game as the veteran only dropped 4 points in 36 minutes but Gasol and Jackson were able to score 20 points a piece to help guide the Grizzlies to an 89-87 victory. The Grizzlies key to success this season will be to ride their #1 defense who has only allowed an average of 100.6 PPG this season.

How Philadelphia 76ers & Memphis Grizzlies Matchup.

Vegas Odds, Offshore Odds, & Odds ATS:

Philadelphia is 5-7 ATS, 1-5 ATS on the road.

Memphis is 6-4 ATS, 4-0 ATS at home.

In-Depth Analysis of each team:

Philadelphia is ranked #13 in the NBA in team scoring as they average 110.7 PPG while Memphis is ranked #28 as they average 102.2 PPG.

Memphis is ranked #1 in the NBA in team defense as they hold opponents to 100.6 PPG while Philadelphia is ranked #19 as they allow opponents to score 111.3 PPG.

Against The Spread Selection: Memphis Grizzlies

My reason for the pick :

The Memphis Grizzlies have been impressive this season considering they were not very good last year and made little to no moves to drastically improve their team but it all starts with the X’s and O’s as the defense has been the backbone for this team. The 76ers don’t stand out in any category as they are in the middle of the pack in both offense and defense while the Grizzlies are ranked #1 in defense. The thing that I believe gives the Grizzlies a true advantage is the fact that they are undefeated ATS at home while Philadelphia is both 1-5 ATS and SU on the road. Conley should have a solid night and expect a guy like Dillon Brooks or Garrett Temple to have a big game at home.

Betting trends for Philadelphia 76ers:

Philadelphia is 2-4 ATS after a win this season.

Betting trends for Memphis Grizzlies:

Memphis is 3-0 ATS as the home favorite this season.

Anthony

I am a sports enthusiast and watch every sport from the NFL to the NHL with everything in between. I have followed sports since I was a young kid and have studied deep into statistics for teams, and players. I am always looking for transactions within sports and find in an interest in every game. Playing every sport growing up has led me to understand every game and look for certain trends and stats.